Teen Bullying

[Jonesville]

Hi - 1st post.

I think I know how you feel - I'm at my wits end with my 13 year old daughter. She has no friends at school, largely as a result of some bullying half way through Y8 (she's just started Y9). She's gone from being a confident, happy teenager with a very busy social life to a loner with no confidence.

She has tried unsuccessfully to make new friends but is now so terrified of rejection that last week she spent lunchtime of the first day of term locked in a loo - she even ate her lunch in there. This just breaks my heart and upsets me so much I can't deal with it rationally!

The bully was punished last term, but this just seemed to make things worse, and others then got involved in her defence. During our family holiday I had to change her mobile phone number as she was getting so many prank calls. The bully did admit to the teacher dealing with her that she had deliberately set about isolating my daughter - who now spends holidays, weekends etc alone. She has a friend from primary school who moved away a couple of years ago so they don't meet up often.

She's asking to move schools - should I take this seriously and try to get her in somewhere else? I have no clue how to go about this.

She's starting counselling after I took her to our GP (she wasn't sleeping or eating).

Apologies for rambling!!

[3littlefrogs]

Have replied on your other thread

[lovelife48]

Have you thought about taking her out of school for a while to home educate, which is a legal option. It may give her the space that she needs to heal and recover. Education otherwise will be able to offer you advice/guidance if you feel that this maybe a option for your daughter. Education is compulsary in this Country but school is not. They have a website: www.educationotherwise.co.uk There is also a forum on netmums for home educating parents if you want to post on there, Im sure you will receive some good advice.

I successfully home educated my two and they are now at Uni and College. My son came out of school in Year 7 and my daughter never went to Secondary school. She has many friends and is at a party all weekend.

Take care, you are not alone.

[larry5]

My dd was bullied at her 1st secondary school from yr 7 to yr 9. We moved areas when she was at the end of yr 9 so she changed school but if we had not been moving she would have changed schools anyway. She only kept going until the end of Yr 9 because she knew she was getting out.

As soon as she got to her new school she made friends and now in Yr 13 she is outgoing and frantically busy.

I am not sure how you go about changing schools but would suggest that you contact the LEA.